For nine years now, I have chosen a Word of the Year.
These words become touchstones for the opportunities, challenges and decisions of each year. Looking back over each of them shows me a roadmap of where I’ve traveled on this author journey.
The Words
- 2017: FOCUS
- 2018: COMPLETION
- 2019: PERSEVERANCE
- 2020: WISDOM
- 2021: COMMITMENT
- 2022: INFLUENCE
- 2023: LEGACY
- 2024: CLARITY
- 2025: SHIFT
I’m always amazed at how the word fits its year, in some cases feeling somewhat prophetic. The best example of that is 2020. None of us knew in January how much wisdom we would need.
Looking Back
2017 was the year I finetuned my purpose and plowed ahead toward my dreams, setting up Logos & Mythos Press as an official business and choosing a story idea to focus on.
2018 was the year of completion of first drafts and when I first saw my name on a book cover that also sat on library shelves.
2019 began with a great deal of uncertainty over whether I would be able to meet my publishing goal or not, and yet that year’s perseverance paid off with two published books.
God gave me wisdom through the trials of 2020. 2021 saw my commitment tested and strengthened, while 2022 was a year where I began to see the positive influence my books and I could have.
Reeling from a great deal of loss in the last half of the year before, I clung to the word in 2023 as a life raft while I navigated the choppy waters of the emotions for those left behind and pressed forward with the second half of publishing Carolina’s Legacy Collection.
At the start of 2024, I felt cloudy over decisions and paths to take. As the year progressed, though, I saw with God-given clarity for each new step.
And Now …
For 2025, I contemplated a number of words, but shift was the one that stood out. It feels different to me somehow. This year’s genesis has felt different, too.
I have developed certain routines that I make part of my early January. So far, choosing a word is the only one I’ve kept. Surprising to me, I don’t intend to update my clarity cards or create full goal lists or anything else planning-related at the moment.
Instead of freaking out over this deviation from my comfortable, orderly habits, I’m at peace with my decision and believe such contentment directly relates to my 2025 word.
It All Comes Full Circle
You see, I know a shift needs to happen. I’ve felt the need for a while.
What I’ve lacked is a clarity over what exactly this shift needs to cover. I know it will have an impact on my legacy and influence while solidifying my commitment to the right tasks. I will rely greatly on wisdom and perseverance as I seek completion of whatever this shift must be, and I believe a greater focus will be the result.
Looking Forward
And so, once my word and I run through this process together—whenever that will be—I expect to return to those helpful routines (or some version of them) to brainstorm and plot my author plans and goals from the proper place—mind, body and emotions.
For these reasons, I have no immediate intentions to release plans for the coming year. I have some desired goals, but until I figure out how I must shift, I won’t declare them publicly.
Great Expectations
I do expect some changes to occur in the coming weeks. All I can say with relative certainty is:
- My weekly newsletter will be the best place for updates when they’re available. https://bit.ly/JoyERancatoreNewsletter
- I will continue to write; in fact, I believe the primary direction of this year’s shift will lead to more written content.
Beyond those details, I expect to be delightfully surprised as this year unfolds and look forward to what a look back at the changes and this word will reveal.
Do you set a Word of the Year? What is yours? Why did you choose it or are you unsure of its purpose yet?